Edited body images images 'causing children to miss school', says Stamford counsellor
A new report says logos should be used to show if photos have been edited
A Stamford counsellor thinks putting disclosure logos on digitally-altered body images "is a good thing".
Julie Griffin is an expert in Child psychology, she tells Greatest Hits that low body confidence caused by consuming edited social media pictures online is causing some kids to miss school:
'They're very very easily influenced, and some of the more vulnerable ones can end up not feeling good enough, feeling really bad about themselves, and then the danger there that I see is that they withdraw, so it even affects things like school attendance.'
'Images, these videos, are done for a purpose, they're done for reasons and that's fine. But it's good to have a balance so that these young people know they're being done for a reason and that's not the way that people generally look on a day to day basis.'
Full disclosure
It's after a group of MPs outlined a number of measures that should be brought in to help prevent body image dissatisfaction.
The new report from the House of Commons' Health and Social Care Committee says the Government should ban commercial images containing bodies which have been edited in anyway, unless they use a logo.
Editing includes anything from changing body proportions to skin tone, and it's hoped the logo would let viewers know that what they're seeing isn't a natural body.
A cosmetic cutback
The Committee also want action to tackle the "conveyor-belt" approach to non-surgical cosmetic procedures, like Botox injections.
They hope a licensing regime and training standards for service-providers, as well as a 'cooling off' period between consent and procedure, will help regulate things and prevent distressing experiences.
Chairman of the committee, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The Government must act urgently to end the situation where anyone can carry out non-surgical cosmetic procedures, regardless of training or qualifications.
"We heard of some distressing experiences - a conveyor belt approach with procedures carried out with no questions asked, procedures that have gone wrong, the use of filthy premises.
"We hope that ministers will listen to our recommendations and set about creating the safety standards that anyone seeking treatment has a right to expect."
Setting the right example
The report urged legislative action to be taken to prevent children from developing body image issues early on.
Mr Hunt told Sky News: "We now think that around 60% of 17 to 19-year-olds may have a possible eating disorder, so this is a very dramatic increase over the last couple of decades.
"And social media appears to be one of the causes - we call for some research to be done so that we can properly understand that.
"But, at the very minimum, when commercial companies photoshop images to make people more thin than they would be in real life, we think that should be labelled - we think people looking at those images should know this is not a real human being.
"I think the social media landscape is in need of an overhaul in areas like this, particularly when it affects young people."
Will we see change?
A Government spokesman said: "We know the devastating impact issues around body image can have on a person's mental and physical health, and we are continuing to take steps to support those affected.
"As part of our ongoing effort, we will be introducing a national licensing scheme to help prevent exploitation, improve safety and ensure individuals are making informed and safe choices about non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
"This will build on the existing support we have put in place, from expanding mental health services - including for those with body dysmorphic disorder - with an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2024, to changing the law preventing under-18s accessing Botox and filler treatments for cosmetic purposes."